Katerina Graham Speaks on Role in The Vampire Diaries

As any fan of the L.J. Smith novels on which this show is based is aware of, there are some differences between Elena's BFF in the books and the character portrayed by Graham.

For starters, the former is blonde.

But, in a new interview, Graham says she's taking a fresh approach to the role.

"In an interesting way, Bonnie kind of sets the tone of the show. She has a very foreboding texture. It’s a great show. The writing is great and the cast is really great," Graham said, adding:

"If you’ve read the books you’ll notice there are some differences between Bonnie and me, physically. The best thing I could have done for myself and for the fans, and to do justice to L.J.’s novels, was to forget the physical characteristics of Bonnie and capture her essence. I think L.J. is great. I thank her for giving the world these books.

When it comes to the competition between The Vampire Diaries and True Blood or Twilight, all I can say, is L.J. wrote the books long before the whole Twilight thing came out. It’s not even the same story line."

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You want a love that consumes you. You want passion and adventure, and even a little danger... I want you to get everything you're looking for. But for right now, I want you to forget that this happened. Can't have people knowing I'm in town yet. Goodnight, Elena.

Damon: You know what they are? Children. Like lighting a candle's going to make everything OK, or even saying a prayer. Or pretending Elena's not going to end up just like the rest of us murdering vampires. Stupid, delusional, exasperating little children. And I know what you're going to say: 'It makes them feel better, Damon.' So what? For how long? A minute, a day? What difference does it make? Because in the end, when you lose somebody, every candle, every prayer is not going to make up for the fact that the only thing you have left is hole in your life where that somebody that you cared about used to be. And a rock with a birthday carved into it that I'm pretty sure is wrong. So thanks, friend. Thanks for leaving me here to babysit. Because I should be long gone by now. I didn't get the girl, remember? I'm just stuck here fighting my brother and taking care of the kids. You owe me big.Alaric: I miss you too, buddy.